Roadway transition for expansion joints on road bridges etc.

ABSTRACT

A roadway transition for expansion joints on road bridges and the like includes intermediate bars extending parallel to the joint edges. The bars are supported at at least two points along their lengths by vertically oriented lazy tongs having their hinges extending parallel to the joint edges, these lazy tongs forming supporting beams for the intermediate bars. The upper end hinges of the lazy tongs are fixedly articulated at points in the range of the joint edges, so that the upper and lower intermediate hinges are in common vertical planes, with the upper intermediate hinges lying, in any position of the lazy tongs, in the horizontal plane of the upper end hinges. Each intermediate bar has at least one supporting member engageable with another intermediate bar to prevent tilting. The lower end hinges of the lazy tongs may be mounted in vertical guide slots.

United States Patent [191 Pommerening et al.

[451 Mar. 19, 1974 ROADWAY TRANSITION FOR EXPANSION JOINTS ON ROAD BRIDGES ETC.

Rheinstahl AG, Essen am Rheinstahlhaus, Germany [22] Filed: Dec. 1, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 203,683

[73] Assignee:

9/1967 Switzerland 94/18 4/1964 France 94/18 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Der Bavinginieur, 1939. pages 586,587.

Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier Assistant Examiner-Thomas J. I-Iolko Attorney. Agent, or Firm-McGlew and Tuttle 5 7 ABSTRACT A roadway transition for expansion joints on road bridges and the like includes intermediate bars extending parallel to the joint edges. The bars are supported at at least two points along their lengths by vertically oriented lazy tongs having their hinges extending parallel to the joint edges, these lazy tongs forming supporting beams for the intermediate bars. The upper end hinges of the lazy tongs are fixedly articulated at points in the range of the joint edges, so that the upper and lower intermediate hinges are in common vertical planes, with the upper intermediate hinges lying, in any position of the lazy tongs, in the horizontal plane of the upper end hinges. Each intermediate bar has at least one supporting member engageable with another intermediate bar to prevent tilting. The lower end hinges of the lazy tongs may be mounted in vertical guide slots.

11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures SHEEI 2 OF 4 PATENTEU MR 1 9 I974 FIG.4

PATENTS] MAR 9 I974 SHEET 3 (If 4 FIG. 5

PATENHED "AR 19 974 ROADWAY TRANSITION FOR EXPANSION JOINTS ON ROAD BRIDGES ETC.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to roadway transitions for expansion joints on road bridges and the like and, more particularly, to a novel and improved roadway transition of the type comprising intermediate bars extending parallel to the joint edges and supported by lazy tongs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Roadway transitions of the general type mentioned are known from the journal Der Bauinginieur 1939, page 586, left column bottom to line 13 of right column and FIG. 29 on page 587. In this journal. the intermediate bars, called "Barren" are supported in a conventional manner by supporting means extending transversely of the expansion joint at relatively small intervals. The two outer bars, which are the so-called edge bars," are secured either on the adjacent joint edges or on the supporting construction, so that their position, with respect to the joint edges, does not change during variations of the joint width. However, the intermediate bars arranged between the edge bars are'mounted displaceably on the supporting beams and are secured against tilting and excessive detachment by flat steel bars extending under the upper flanges of the I-shaped supporting beams.

In the intervals between the supporting beams, flat lazy tongs are articulated, with vertically oriented hinges, to the joint edges, these lazy tongs consisting of several tong sections connected with each other by means of intermediate hinges. The lazy tongs are variable in their opening width transverse to the expansion joint, and are connected, at their intermediate hinges, with the intermediate bars, for guidance. Thereby, the distances of the intermediate bars on both sides on the expansion joint edges and/or adjoining intermediate bars vary to the same extent during variations of the expansion joint width, and remain always at the same distance relative to each other.

This known roadwa'y transition has various shortcomings, so that no further applications are known, apart from the embodiment mentioned in the above cited journal. The greatest disadvantage is that a great number of supporting beams necessary throughout the length of the expansion joint, on the one hand, and the large number of lazy tongs serving to control the intermediate bars. on the other hand, require an extremely high expenditure of material and time for the production and assembly of the entire construction. Additionally, this roadway transition'is accessible for repairs only from the bottom and only due to the fact that the chamber wall is correspondingly recessed. Finally, another disadvantage is that considerable rattling noises are produced by vehicles rolling over the roadway transition, since the flat steel bars, arranged on the intermediate bars to secure them against tilting, must extend for some distance beneath the flanges of the supporting beams.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to providing a roadway transition of the general type just described, but avoiding the mentioned disadvantages, with the objective of the invention being to design a roadway transition. for expansion joints on road bridges etc., in such a way that the intermediate bars can be rigidly connected at all supporting points to each supporting beam in order positively to avoid rattling noises and tilting movements of the intermediate bars.

In accordance with the invention, the lazy tongs are vertically oriented and are designed as supporting beams for the intermediate bars, with the hinges of the lazy tongs extending generally horizontally and parallel to the expansion joint edges. The upper end hinges are fixedly articulated in the range of the joint edges, so that the intermediate hinges, connecting the tong sections, are arranged in superposition and the upper intermediate hinges, ineach position of the tongs, are arranged in the plane including the upper end hinges. Also, each intermediate bar is fixedly connected to the coaxial upper intermediate hinges of at least two laterally spaced lazy tongs, and has at least one mounting support against tilting.

In the roadway transition embodying the invention, the lazy tongs thus serve at the same time as supporting beams and guide elements to secure the spacing of the intermediate bars from each other and from the expansion joint edges, so that, by eliminating special supporting beams, as were considered necessary heretofore, the construction is considerably simplified. With respect to roadway transitions of the type known, for example, from German patent No. 1,241,477, not only are the bearing beams and the bearings necessary for these beams eliminated but also the movement openings, necessary for these bearing means, and which are specially closed in concrete construction, are eliminated. So-called edge beams or edge constructions, which are always necessary at the edges of the expansion joint, are considerably simpler in the invention roadway transition as compared with known roadway transitions, so that their anchoring also is simpler and the shuttering and casting of concrete in structural parts forming the expansion joints are less expensive.

The upper end hinges of the lazy tongs are fixedly articulated in the range of the joint edges, so that the upper intermediate hinges of each individual tongs, which connect the tong sections and which serve at the same time to secure the intermediate bars, are arranged, in each position of the tongs, in a plane determined by the upper end hinges of these tongs, so that, indirectly, the uniform vertical position of the intermediate bars is also assured. Since each intermediate bar must be supported and guided throughout its length for static reasons at least two points, it is rigidly connected to the coaxial upper intermediate hinges of at least two lazy tongs arranged, according to the invention, in the expansion joint, while it is secured by at least one mounting support against tilting by the traffic load.

The lazy tongsgenerally can be so designed that they are fixedly mounted at their ends with one hinge and displaceably mounted with respect to the other hinge. In the expansion joint embodying the invention, the two upper end hinges are, in each case, fixedly articulated in the range of the joint edges, while the lower end hinges are mounted, in one embodiment and in a known manner, on the respective joint edge in a vertical guide slot.

In the realization of the invention, it was found that the most expedient design of the lazy tongs is one where the tong bar of the two intersecting tong bars of the outer tong sections articulated in the range of the joint edges, and which intersects the tong bar articulated at the top, terminates on the central hinge connecting the two tong bars. Due to this design of this lazy tongs, the roadway transition not only is lighter than with guides of the lower end hinges on the joint edges, but it also has the advantage, over the latter, that the tongs adapt themselves to all movements of the part forming the expansion joint and without jamming.

The fastening of the lazy tongs in the range of the joint edges can be so designed that the upper end hinges of the latter are articulated directly to parts protecting, in a known manner, the joint edges, and with the parts forming the expansion joint. In this embodiment, the entire roadway transistion, including the edge beams, is preferably assembled in the work shop and inserted on the construction site into corresponding recesses of the parts forming the expansion joint, which are subsequently closed, as usual, preferably by casting with concrete.

A greater advantage, however, is the design of the roadway transition where so-called edge bars with edge beams arranged at the joint edges are connected fixedly but disengageably to the edge joints and where the upper end hinges of the lazy tongs are fixedly articulated on the edge bars. This type of articulation of the lazy tongs provides, in many cases, the possibility of first inserting the edge beams into the parts forming the expansion joint and subsequently assembling the intermediate bars, assembled in the work shop with the lazy tongs to a "pack", between the edge beams, and removing this pack" again if necessary, for example, for repairs. without damaging the edge beams or the adjoining parts.

The mounting supports preventing tilting of the intermediate pipes under traffic loads can consist, in the simplest form. of flat steel bars which are secured on the bottom edges of each intermediate bar and which are guided under adjoining intermediate bars or edge bars in the same manner as the mounting supports according to German design patent No. 1,981,260. With large tilting forces, however, other measures must be taken to prevent tilting of the intermediate bars. In a better solution, the mounting support assuring against tilting of each intermediate bar is secured to the base of the intermediate bar and extends downwardly beyond the lower intermediate hinge of the lazy tongs, which is arranged vertically beneath the upper intermediate hinge, and has, at the bottom end, a vertical slot for guiding the hinge pin of the lower intermediate hinge, thus securing the intermediate bar through the mounting support against tilting. The longer lever arm forming this mounting support assures good security against tilting movements of the intermediate bars.

In another safety mechanism, against tilting movements, the mounting support of the intermediate bar is also secured on its base, but is not conducted downwardly beyond an adjoining upper intermediate hinge, and has, in its range, a horizontal slot in which the hinge pin of this intermediate hinge is guided. This embodiment is particularly, applicable in those cases in which simple flat steel bars are no longer sufficient as a security against tilting, but on the other hand, the forces are not great enough so that the amount of support must be designed with the very long lever arm, as mentioned above.

Since the hinges must be movable easily even under heavy traffic loads and in any weather, the hinges, and the sliding surfaces of the mounting supports preventing tilting of the bars, are preferably and advantageously provided with a coat of known frictionreducing material, preferably of plastic.

Primarily, it is irrevelant, with respect to the invention, whether the roadway transition is permeable to water and/or dirt or not. On the other hand, the waterproof construction is preferred, particularly because the lazy tongs thus are protected also against water and ice. The waterproofness is preferably attained by arranging, in a known manner, elastic rubber pads at both sides of the intermediate bars, and which are preferably fixedly connected with the latter by cementing or clamping.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention is illustrated schematically as cross sections through expan sion joints on road bridges. The edge bars and the intermediate bars are I-shaped, but the cross sectional form of the bars is irrelevant for the invention.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved expansion joint for a roadway transition.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an expansion joint which is free of the disadvantages of known types of expansion joints.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an expansion joint which is simpler and less expensive in construction and simpler to mount in position.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of typical embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a roadway transition embodying the invention and wherein each lazy tong consists of five tong sections;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating a double support of the lazy tongs;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through a roadway transition embodying the invention and with elastic rubber pads arranged at both sides of the intermediate bars, with a minimum joint width-summer position;

FIG. 4 corresponds to FIG. 3 but illustrates a maximum joint width-winter position;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a roadway transition embodying the invention and wherein the lazy tongs comprise double tong bars;

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention particularly designed for large traffic loads, with the outer tong bars of the lazy tongs extended downward to a common connecting link and in with the other tong bars articulated on the outer tong bars", and

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating the essential parts of the left half of the roadway transition shown in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The roadway transitions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, are arranged in the expansion joint 1 between two structural parts, namely a road bridge 2 and the adjoining road 3. The edge beams 15 are provided, in their upper thirds and in a usual manner, with a flange 5, forming a sealing ledge, for connection of the road cover 6 and a packing 7. Under the intermediate bars 8, there are arranged, in parallel relation to each other and spaced apart over the length of expansion joint 1 at intervals corresponding to the respective requirements. lazy tongs 9, only one of which is shown. These lazy tongs are designed as supporting means for the intermediate bars, are vertically oriented, and have their hinges l0, l1 and 12 extending parallel to the joint edges 13.

The upper end hinges are fixedly articulated on edge bars 4 fixedly connected on edge beams 15, and the upper intermediate hinges 11 extend, in any position of the tongs, in a plane determined by the upper end hinges 10. Intermediate bars 8 are fixedly connected with the coaxial upper intermediate hinges ll of the parallel lazy tongs arranged in the expansion joint, and each bar 8 has a mounting support 17 preventing tilting, of which only one is shown, for the sake of clarity, in FIG. 2. This mounting support consists of a flat steel bar secured to the foot of each of the intermediate bar and extending under the adjoining intermediate bars. 7

The lazy tongs in FIG. 1 differs from that in FIG. 2 in that, in FIG. 1, tong bar 19 of the two intersecting tong bars 18 and 19 of each tong section 14 articulated to edge bars 4, which intersects tong bar 18 articulated with upper end hinge 10 on edge bar 4, terminates on central hinge 20 interconnecting the two tong bars. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, tong bars 29 intersecting tong bars 18 have the same length as tong bars 18 and are mounted, in a known manner, in a vertical guide slot means 22, the guide slot means being displaceably mounted in edge beams 15 in order to avoid jamming with abutment settings.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, edge bars 40 rest on brackets 23 which are secured on edge beams 15. Edge beams 15 have, on the one hand, round steel stays 24 and, on the other hand, reinforcements 25 with bores for concrete steels 26 for staying the edge beams 15 in the secondary concrete with which the recesses are filled after the mounting of edge beams 15. Lazy tongs 9 are fixedly articulated with their upper end hinges 10 on edge bars 40, so that the roadway transition can be pushed out of the expansion joint 1 after opening the welded seams 32 which connect edge beams 15 and edge bars 40. In the intermediate bars 8, there are secured mounting supports 27 against tilting, and these extend downward beyond the lower intermediate hinge 12 arranged perpendicularly beneath the upper intermediate hinge 11. The mounting supports have, at the bottom end, a vertical slot 28 for guiding the hinge pin of intermediate hinge 12. At both sides of each intermediate bar 8, there are arranged and secured, in a known manner, elastic rubber pads 31 which are preferably of tubular form and by means of which the roadway transition'is sealed against the passage of water and/or dirt.

As can be seen from FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, there are no difficulties in the designing of the roadway transition, embodied the invention, for large joint widths and for large expansion movements, as well as for heavy traffic loads. In order to meet the static requirements, it will be sufficient, in some cases. to arrange the tong bars double, as in FIG. 7. In other cases, it may be advisable to arrange the tong bars double or triple, as in FIG. 5, or even as multiple tong bars, as in FIG. 6.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, mounting supports 37 preventing tilting of the intermediate bars, of which only one is represented, for the sake of clarity, are arranged on the base of each intermediate bar and extend beyond an adjacent intermediate hinge 11. Each support 37 is provided with the horizontal slot 32 in which the hinge pin of intermediate hinge 11 is guided.

As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 7, the tong bars are designed alternately as double bars or single bars, the latter having a correspondingly larger cross section, and the mounting supports 27, preventing tilting and secured on the intermediate bars 8, are forked.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the ap plication of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. In a roadway transition, for expansion joints on road bridges and the like, of the type including at least one intermediate bar extending, in an expansion joint; parallel to the joint edges and supported at at least two points along its length, at least two lazy tongs guiding each intermediate bar and articulated, in laterally spaced relation to each other, on the joint edges, with each lazy tongs having at least two tong sections connected by intermediate hinges and each lazy tongs being variable in its opening width transversely of the expansion joint, so that the spacings of opposite sides of the associated intermediate bar, from the adjacent respective joint edges or from adjoining intermediate bars, vary uniformly in variations of the joint width and are always the same relative to each other; the improvement comprising, in combination, said lazy tongs having their hinges extending horizontally and parallel to the joint edges, and said lazy tongus being oriented vertically and forming supporting beams for the intermediate bars', said lazy tongs having upper end hinges fixedly articulated at points in the range of the joint edges and having upper and lower intermediate hinges which thereby are in common vertical planes, with the upper intermediate hinges lying, in any position of the lazy tongs, in the horizontal plane of the upper end I hinges.

2. In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 1, including plural intermediate bars; and means fixedly connecting each intermediate bar with the upper intermediate hinges of at least two lazy tongs, which upper intermediate hinges of the at least two lazy tongs are coaxial with each other.

3. In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 2, including at least one mounting support secured to each intermediate bar and constructed and arranged to inhibit tilting of the associated intermediate bar.

4. In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, including respective guide means with vertical slots on the respective joint edges, the outer tong sections of respective said lazy tongs having bottom end hinges engaged with the vertical slots.

5. In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, in which each tong section articulated to joint edges has two interconnecting tong bars, with that tong bar pivotally connected to the tong bar having its upper end hinge fixedly articulated in the range of the joint edge being pivotally connected to the latter at a central hinge interconnecting said two tong bars.

6. In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, wherein the transition includes edge beams extending along the joint edges; and respective edge bars detachably connected with said edge beams, the upper end hinges of said lazy tongs being fixedly articulated to said edge bars.

7. In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, wherein each mounting support is secured to the base of the associated intermediate bar and extends downwardly beyond the lower intermediate hinge which is vertically beneath the upper intermediate hinge; each mounting support having, at its lower end, a vertical slot for guiding the hinge pin of the associated lower intermediate hinge.

8. In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, in which each mounting support is secured to the base of the associated intermediate bar and extends horizontally beyond the upper intermediate hinge at the adjacent intermediate bar; each mounting support having a horizontal slot guiding the hinge pin of said last-named upper intermediate hinge.

9. In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 8, in which the two end bars of each lazy tongs, whose upper end hinges are fixedly articulated at points in the range of the joint edges, extend downwardly and are pivotally interconnected at their lower ends.

10. In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, in which the hinges of said lazy tongs and sliding surfaces of said mounting supports are coated with a friction-reducing material.

11. In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, including elastic rubber pads secured to and extending along opposite sides of said intermediate bars and forming seals between adjacent intermediate bars. 

1. In a roadway transition, for expansion joints on road bridges and the like, of the type including at least one intermediate bar extending, in an expansion joint; parallel to the joint edges and supported at at least two points along its length, at least two lazy tongs guiding each intermediate bar and articulated, in laterally spaced relation to each other, on the joint edges, with each lazy tongs having at least two tong sections connected by intermediate hinges and each lazy tongs being variable in its opening width transversely of the expansion joint, so thAt the spacings of opposite sides of the associated intermediate bar, from the adjacent respective joint edges or from adjoining intermediate bars, vary uniformly in variations of the joint width and are always the same relative to each other; the improvement comprising, in combination, said lazy tongs having their hinges extending horizontally and parallel to the joint edges, and said lazy tongus being oriented vertically and forming supporting beams for the intermediate bars; said lazy tongs having upper end hinges fixedly articulated at points in the range of the joint edges and having upper and lower intermediate hinges which thereby are in common vertical planes, with the upper intermediate hinges lying, in any position of the lazy tongs, in the horizontal plane of the upper end hinges.
 2. In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 1, including plural intermediate bars; and means fixedly connecting each intermediate bar with the upper intermediate hinges of at least two lazy tongs, which upper intermediate hinges of the at least two lazy tongs are coaxial with each other.
 3. In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 2, including at least one mounting support secured to each intermediate bar and constructed and arranged to inhibit tilting of the associated intermediate bar.
 4. In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, including respective guide means with vertical slots on the respective joint edges, the outer tong sections of respective said lazy tongs having bottom end hinges engaged with the vertical slots.
 5. In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, in which each tong section articulated to joint edges has two interconnecting tong bars, with that tong bar pivotally connected to the tong bar having its upper end hinge fixedly articulated in the range of the joint edge being pivotally connected to the latter at a central hinge interconnecting said two tong bars.
 6. In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, wherein the transition includes edge beams extending along the joint edges; and respective edge bars detachably connected with said edge beams, the upper end hinges of said lazy tongs being fixedly articulated to said edge bars.
 7. In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, wherein each mounting support is secured to the base of the associated intermediate bar and extends downwardly beyond the lower intermediate hinge which is vertically beneath the upper intermediate hinge; each mounting support having, at its lower end, a vertical slot for guiding the hinge pin of the associated lower intermediate hinge.
 8. In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, in which each mounting support is secured to the base of the associated intermediate bar and extends horizontally beyond the upper intermediate hinge at the adjacent intermediate bar; each mounting support having a horizontal slot guiding the hinge pin of said last-named upper intermediate hinge.
 9. In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 8, in which the two end bars of each lazy tongs, whose upper end hinges are fixedly articulated at points in the range of the joint edges, extend downwardly and are pivotally interconnected at their lower ends.
 10. In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, in which the hinges of said lazy tongs and sliding surfaces of said mounting supports are coated with a friction-reducing material.
 11. In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, including elastic rubber pads secured to and extending along opposite sides of said intermediate bars and forming seals between adjacent intermediate bars. 